Data management method for recorded programs stored on a digital recording device

Abstract

A data management method for recorded programs stored on a digital recording device. A portion of a first recorded program is rendered to an audio/video device. A user command is received for releasing memory associated with a rendered portion of the first recorded program. In response to the user command, the memory associated with the rendered portion is released, wherein the memory is available to store data associated with a second recorded program and a remaining portion of the first recorded program is available for presentation to the audio/video device. The present invention provides a method for maximizing the storage space of a digital recording device, such as a personal video recorder (PVR) or a digital video recorder (DVR), by allowing for partial deletion of a recorded program. The remaining portion of the recorded program may be presented in response to a second user command.

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
     
     
         36 . A data management method for recorded programs stored on a digital recording device, said method comprising: 
 rendering a portion of a first multimedia data file to an audio/video device; and    releasing memory associated with said portion of said first multimedia data file, wherein said memory is available to store data associated with a second multimedia data file and a remaining portion of said first multimedia data file is preserved.    
     
     
         37 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein said first multimedia data file is a recorded television program.  
     
     
         38 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein said first multimedia data file is stored within a hard drive of said digital recording device.  
     
     
         39 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein said first multimedia data file is stored as a video stream in a format that is substantially compliant with the Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG).  
     
     
         40 . The method as recited in  claim 39  wherein said releasing said memory associated with said portion comprises: 
 concatenating said first multimedia data file at an Intra frame of said MPEG video stream; and  
 releasing said portion of first multimedia data file prior to said Intra frame.  
 
     
     
         41 . The method as recited in  claim 39  further comprising: 
 receiving a user command for presenting said remaining portion of said first multimedia data file;  
 synchronizing audio and video of said MPEG video stream according to a presentation time stamp of said MPEG video stream; and  
 rendering said remaining portion of said first multimedia data file to said audio/video device.  
 
     
     
         42 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein said digital recording device is a personal video recorder (PVR).  
     
     
         43 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein said digital recording device is a digital video recorder (DVR).  
     
     
         44 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein said audio/video device is a television.  
     
     
         45 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory unit coupled to said processor;    a storage device coupled to said processor and for storing a first multimedia data file; and    a multimedia decoder coupled to said processor and for decoding said first multimedia data file and for presenting said first multimedia data file;    said memory comprising instructions, that when executed, perform a method for partial deletion of said first multimedia data file, said method comprising: 
 playing a portion of said first multimedia data file; and  
 releasing storage space of said storage device associated with said portion of said first multimedia data file, wherein said storage space is available to store data associated with a second multimedia data file and a remaining portion of said recorded program is preserved.  
   
     
     
         46 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 45  wherein said first multimedia data file is a recorded television program.  
     
     
         47 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 45  wherein said first multimedia data file is a digital recording device.  
     
     
         48 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 45  wherein said first multimedia data file is stored as a video stream in a format that is substantially compliant with the Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG).  
     
     
         49 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 48  wherein said storage space comprises: 
 concatenating said first multimedia data file at an Intra frame of said MPEG video stream; and  
 releasing said portion of said first multimedia data file prior to said Intra frame.  
 
     
     
         50 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 49  wherein said method further comprises: 
 receiving a user command for presenting said remaining portion of said first multimedia data file;  
 synchronizing audio and video of said MPEG video stream according to a presentation time stamp of said MPEG video stream; and  
 accessing said remaining portion of said first multimedia data file.  
 
     
     
         51 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 47  wherein said digital recording device is a personal video recorder (PVR).  
     
     
         52 . The electronic device as recited in  claim 47  wherein said digital recording device is a digital video recorder (DVR).  
     
     
         53 . A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a data management method for recorded programs stored on a digital recording device, said method comprising: 
 rendering a portion of a first multimedia data file to an audio/video device; and    releasing memory associated with said portion of said first multimedia data file, wherein said memory is available to store data associated with a second multimedia data file and a remaining portion of said first multimedia data file is preserved.    
     
     
         54 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 53  wherein said first multimedia data file is a recorded television program.  
     
     
         55 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 53  wherein said first multimedia data file is stored within a hard drive of said digital recording device.  
     
     
         56 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 53  wherein said first multimedia data file is stored as a video stream in a format that is substantially compliant with the Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG).  
     
     
         57 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 56  wherein said releasing said memory associated with said portion comprises: 
 concatenating said first multimedia data file at an Intra frame of said MPEG video stream; and  
 releasing said portion of said first multimedia data file prior to said Intra frame.  
 
     
     
         58 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 57  further comprising: 
 receiving a user command for presenting said remaining portion of said first multimedia data file;  
 synchronizing audio and video of said MPEG video stream according to a presentation time stamp of said MPEG video stream; and  
 presenting said remaining portion of said first multimedia data file.  
 
     
     
         59 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 53  wherein said digital recording device is a personal video recorder (PVR).  
     
     
         60 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 53  wherein said digital recording device is a digital video recorder (DVR).  
     
     
         61 . The computer-usable medium as recited in  claim 53  wherein said audio/video device is a television.  
     
     
         62 . A method of managing recorded media comprising: 
 reading a first portion of a multimedia data file from a digital medium for playback to an audio/visual device;    displaying a user interface comprising a user selection on said audio/visual device;    in response to a user command, reallocating said first portion for use in storing another recorded program thereon; and    reading a remaining portion of said multimedia data file for playback to said audio/visual device.    
     
     
         63 . The method as recited in  claim 62  wherein said multimedia data file is a recorded television program.  
     
     
         64 . The method as recited in  claim 62  wherein said digital medium is a hard drive of a digital recording device.  
     
     
         65 . The method as recited in  claim 62  wherein said multimedia data file is stored as a video stream in a format that is substantially compliant with the Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG).  
     
     
         66 . The method as recited in  claim 65  wherein said reallocating said first portion comprises: 
 concatenating said multimedia data file at an Intra frame of said MPEG video stream; and  
 reallocating said first portion prior to said Intra frame.  
 
     
     
         67 . The method as recited in  claim 65  wherein said reading a remaining portion of said recorded program comprises: 
 receiving a second user command for presenting said remaining portion of said multimedia data file;  
 synchronizing audio and video of said MPEG video stream according to a presentation time stamp of said MPEG video stream; and  
 reading said remaining portion for playback to said audio/video device.  
 
     
     
         68 . The method as recited in  claim 62  wherein said digital recording device is a personal video recorder (PVR).  
     
     
         69 . The method as recited in  claim 62  wherein said digital recording device is a digital video recorder (DVR).  
     
     
         70 . The method as recited in  claim 62  wherein said audio/video device is a television.  
     
     
         71 . A method for increasing the amount of memory available on a digital recording device, said method comprising: 
 maintaining data in memory of said digital recording device, said data associated with a recorded program for rendering on an electronic device; and    in response to an event, releasing a portion of said data such that memory associated with said portion is available for storing additional data and said remaining portion of said recorded program is available for rendering on said electronic device.    
     
     
         72 . The method as recited in  claim 71  wherein said recorded program is a recorded television program.  
     
     
         73 . The method as recited in  claim 71  wherein said memory is a hard drive of said digital recording device.  
     
     
         74 . The method as recited in  claim 71  wherein said recorded program is stored as a video stream in a format that is substantially compliant with the Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG).  
     
     
         75 . The method as recited in  claim 74  wherein said releasing a portion of said data comprises: 
 concatenating said recorded program at an Intra frame of said MPEG video stream; and  
 releasing said portion of said recorded program prior to said Intra frame.  
 
     
     
         76 . The method as recited in  claim 75  further comprising synchronizing audio and video of said MPEG video stream of said remaining portion according to a presentation time stamp of said MPEG video stream.  
     
     
         77 . The method as recited in  claim 71  wherein said digital recording device is a personal video recorder (PVR).  
     
     
         78 . The method as recited in  claim 71  wherein said digital recording device is a digital video recorder (DVR).  
     
     
         79 . The method as recited in  claim 71  wherein said electronic device is an audio/video device.  
     
     
         80 . The method as recited in  claim 79  wherein said audio/video device is a television.  
     
     
         81 . The method as recited in  claim 71  wherein said event is a user command for releasing said portion.  
     
     
         82 . The method as recited in  claim 71  wherein said event is rendering said portion.